Climate Change Impact Modeling Institutional Road Map - 2006

Climate Change Impact Modeling
Institutional Road Map
Abu Mostafa Kamal Uddin

Climate Change Cell
Department Of Environment

Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Climate Change Impact Modeling

Institutional Road Map

Abu Mostafa Kamal Uddin

August 2006

Climate Change Cell
Department Of Environment
Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Climate Change Impact Modeling
Institutional Road Map

Author
Abu Mostafa Kamal Uddin

Date of Publication
August 2006

Published by
Climate Change Cell, Department of Environment
Component 4b, Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme, Bangladesh
Room 403, Paribesh Bhabhan, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207
Bangladesh
Phone: (880-2) 9111379 Extension 147
Fax: (880-2) 9111379 Extension 147
E-mail: [email protected]

Credits
Layout and Photo: Nasimul Haque

About Climate Change Cell
The Climate Change Cell has been established in the Department of Environment in 2004 under
the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP) of the Government. It responds to
the recognition that Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and
that the number and scale of climate-related disasters is likely to increase.
Climate change will have far-reaching effects across many sectors. The Cell provides the central
focus for the Government’s climate change related work, operating as a unit of the Department of
Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
Its objective is to enable the management of long term climate risks and uncertainties as an
integral part of national development planning.
This will contribute to the primary objective of the wider Comprehensive Disaster Management
Programme, which aims to strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh disaster management
system to reduce unacceptable risks and improve response and recovery activities.
Meeting these objectives will enable more effective and sustained poverty reduction through the
reduction of disaster and climate risks within the overall development process.

The Climate Change Cell’s work program focuses on four main areas:

Building the capacity of Government to coordinate and integrate climate change issues in
mainstream development activities across government. It also acts as a secretariat to
coordinate other national climate change activities such as National Communication preparation,
the NAPA process, and the Clean Development Mechanism.
Strengthening existing knowledge and availability of information on impact prediction and
adaptation to climate change. This includes compiling and synthesizing existing studies, and
filling some of the gaps, as well as improving information exchange between science and policymakers
Awareness raising, advocacy and coordination with partners across government, NGOs,
civil society, private sector and donor organizations. Using a variety of mechanisms and
information products, the Cell is working to promote the integration of climate change adaptation
and risk reduction in development activities, especially within climate sensitive sectors and the
disaster risk reduction process.
Improving capacity to adapt livelihoods to climate change in the agriculture sector.
Working with FAO, we are field-testing livelihood adaptation strategies with farmers to better
respond to disasters and climate change risks. This includes translation of climate change
modeling into agricultural response options and livelihood adaptation practices. The initial focus is
on drought conditions, with a view to facilitating replication elsewhere.

Preface
Bangladesh is already experiencing climate related hazards like floods, droughts, cyclones and
others which are being aggravating following climate change (and variability). A significant part
of the coastal region is threatened by salinity intrusion and submersion due to sea level rise. The
general predictions are: more floods, untimely floods, more droughts, drainage congestion,
salinity intrusion, more cyclones with higher intensities.
Climate related hazards impede/hinder the development process and reduce life and livelihood
security. To eliminate or reduce risks from the climatic hazards a number of actions need to
pursue. To treat risks originating from climate change (and variability) one has to identify hazards
in the context of livelihood systems and respective water setting and locate spatially and
temporally. Around the globe modeling is being practiced for projection of the hazards spatially
and temporally.
Climate change impact modeling is a recent development around the globe and in Bangladesh.
Streamlining existing practice and enhancing efforts in this regard is essential to pursue ‘climate
resilient sustainable development processes. As such the Climate Change Cell, DoE, facilitated a
process identifying needs of the development process and existing capacity of the modeling
community in the country through a workshop and bilateral discussion meetings with the
modeling community.
To streamline and mainstream modeling practice this road map along with a business plan has
been prepared. Implementation of the road map in a partnership mode shall enable us establishing
a mechanism that will support climate resilient development processes in country.
The Climate Change Cell, August 2006

Climate Change Impact Modeling
Institutional Road Map

Acknowledgement
I express my gratitude to all the experts and professionals who provided valuable insight
on matching needs with modelling results, and guidance to sustain the modelling
initiative to support overall development processes through a systematic and institutional
approach.
In this respect I extend my thanks to Ian Rector, Chief Technical Adviser, CDMP,
Mohammad Reazuddin, Director, DoE and Component Manager, Climate Change Cell,
Ralf Ernst, Technical Adviser, and Nasimul Haque, Information and Communication
Expert, Climate Change Cell for their motivation and support that has served as the basis
to develop the road map to institutionalize Climate Change Impact Prediction Modelling
in Bangladesh.
Acknowledgement is due also to professionals, particularly Mirza Shawkat Ali and Ziaul
Haque of DoE, and Mamunur Rashid of CDMP, who devoted their attention in
understanding the need and expectation for this road map.
Finally, and most of all, I thank Malik Fida A Khan of CEGIS who shared the outcome of
the Modelling Workshop with relevant organizations, prepared organizational profiles for
those applying and contextualizing different models in Bangladesh. Fida also helped in
scoping the various roles and capacity of organizations in impact modelling.

Abu M. Kamal Uddin

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 1........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Background.................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 Vision.................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2 Mission ................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.3 Context.................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Concern................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Rationale............................................................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Needs Assessment .......................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Workshop.............................................................................................................................................. 9
2.2 Participants ........................................................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Needs and Expectation.......................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 3 Climate Change Models in Bangladesh ................................................................................... 11
3.1 Climate and Climate Model................................................................................................................ 11
3.2 Status of Climate model in Bangladesh .............................................................................................. 12
3.3 Status of Water modeling in Bangladesh............................................................................................ 13
3.4 Status of Application models in Bangladesh ...................................................................................... 14
Chapter 4...................................................................................................................................................... 15
Institutional Profiles.................................................................................................................................... 15
4.1 Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad............................................................................................................ 15
4.2 Institute of Water Modelling............................................................................................................... 16
4.3 Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS)........................................ 17
4.4 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology .................................................................... 19
4.5 Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council ........................................................................................ 18
4.6 Bangladesh Meteorological Department............................................................................................. 18
4.8 Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSSO) ................................... 19
4.9 Water Resources Planning Organization ............................................................................................ 19
4. 10 SAARC Meteorological Research Centre........................................................................................ 19
Chapter 5...................................................................................................................................................... 21
Road Map for Climate Change Model....................................................................................................... 21
5.1 Basis ................................................................................................................................................... 21
5.2 Institutional home for modelling exercise...................................................................................... 21
5.2 Institutional arrangements for modelling exercise.............................................................................. 24
5.2 Business plan ...................................................................................................................................... 25

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Executive Summary
Bangladesh is already experiencing climate related hazards like floods, droughts, cyclones and others which
are being aggravating following climate change (and variability). A significant part of the coastal region is
threatened by salinity intrusion and submersion due to sea level rise. The general predictions are: more
floods, untimely floods, more droughts, drainage congestion, salinity intrusion, more cyclones with higher
intensities.
To understand climate impacts and risks, some key questions need to be answered: Will these hazards
become more frequent and intense? Will their magnitude increase? Which locations are most vulnerable?
When will hazards occur? And what shall be possible impacts? For example: A farmer would like to know
likely precipitation patterns while planning his crop calendar, preparing his land, sowing, harvesting, etc.
Obviously the development practitioners, professionals and policy makers need to gather this knowledge to
provide extension and other services to the primary stakeholders. Worldwide, modeling provides useful
scenarios of impacts of climate change in seeking answers to the questions.

Climate Change Model

C
L
I
M
A
T
E

Housed at: BUP
Technical Associate: BUET
Model Developing Associate: BMD, BWDB
Regional Associate: SMRC
International Associate : IPCC

D
E
V
E
L
O
P
M
E
N
T

Water Model

C
H
A
N
G
E

Housed at: IWM
Technical Associate: BUET, SPARSSO, WARPO
Model Developing Associate: BWDB, BUP
Regional Associate: SMRC
International Associate: DHI

C
E
L
L

Application Model

Coordinator
& Monitor

A
G
E
N
C
I
E
S

Housed at : CEGIS
Technical Associate : BARC
Model Developing Associate : IWM, BUP

Model
Developer

End
Users

The Climate Change Cell of the Department of Environment under the Comprehensive Disaster
Management Programme organized a Workshop on Climate Change Impact Modeling
at BIAM Foundation, Dhaka, during 26-27 February 2006.

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Collective works pursued during the workshop has been analyzed and is being presented in this document.
Specific needs of different sectors from the impact modelling exercise to pursue ‘sustainable climate
resilient development’ have been compiled. Activity based modelling presentations in the workshop
indicated what different modelling exercises could offer to meet these needs. It became clear that climate
modelling, water modelling and application modelling are necessary to support a ‘climate resilient
development’ process. Another milestone finding of the workshop was that the quality of the data from
BMD and BWDB used for calibration of climate modelling as a baseline data needs to be improved.
Following the workshop further consultations were held with the institutions and professionals engaged in
the modelling activities. Discussions with the professionals and institutions focused on two major areas:
•

•

Output formats including spatial (e.g. used mesh size in the model) and temporal (e.g. defined
spells over the seasons) resolutions; compatibility of climate models with water models and
application models in practice in the country.
Developing profiles of the relevant modelling institutions including capacity, experience,
exposure, networking and willingness to achieve and contribute in this regard.

It became evident that there is a need to establish institutional homes separately for climate modelling,
water modelling and application modelling. Each of the modelling exercise requires input and contribution
from a number of organizations for each model and partnerships have to be strengthened and/or developed.
And again institutional arrangements have to be established among institutional homes so that output from
climate modelling could be utilized as input for water and application modelling.
The profile of the model practicing institutions reveals that BUP could be considered for housing climate
change models with BUET as technical associate, BMD and BWDB as model developing associate, SMRC
as regional associate and IPCC as international associate. IWM could be home for water modelling with
WARPO and SPARSSO as technical associate, BWDB, and BUP as model developing associate, SMRC as
regional associate and DHI as international associate. CEGIS could be home for application modelling with
BARC as technical associate and IWM and BUP as model developing associate. It should be mentioned
that these arrangements can be adjusted over time. Rather these are initial arrangements with an open
approach, as the capacity of the modelling practice shall increase in the country and new professionals and
institutes shall emerge and shall join the team in any areas relevant to. All the institutions involved in
climate change impact modelling shall adopt latest technology and customized for the country.
In the context of overall risk management the climate risk management is a substantial area to deal with.
Accordingly modelling shall provide us present climate hazards and trends (past hazards) for specific water
systems and corresponding livelihood systems shall allow us to assess climate risks at this point in time and
shall be used in risk reduction initiatives of the country. There shall also be climatic hazards scenarios
following global warming at local level which shall be used to initiate risk reduction initiatives in the
coming future. These hazards scenarios shall also be used to deal with climate risk management in the
development process of the country.
The vision is to establish an integrated climate change impact modelling approach to incorporate climate
risk management in the development process of the country for ensuring safety of human lives and
properties. However, the mission is outlining pathways for climate change (and variability) modelling
matching development needs and existing modelling practices, strengthening capacity where needed and
establish institutional arrangements that shall ensure appropriate impact scenarios to the development
stakeholders in Bangladesh

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The following business plan is suggested to operationalize the roadmap following business plan shall be
followed. The Climate Change Cell intends to carry forward the activities of the business plan from now
through 2008. However, policy advocacy for mainstreaming shall continue beyond.
Business plan
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BMD base line (1961 to 1990) precipitation and temperature data quality improvement
Acquire localized hazard trends for seven CDMP districts to support Community Risk Assessment
and Action Plan Development and initiate Local Disaster Risk Reduction
MoU among the modelling homes and CDMP
MoU among partners of specific models
Validation runs PRECIS with improved data
Validation runs RegCM with improved data
Comparative analysis of validation results for PRECIS and RegCM
Outline training plan for climate modelling
Training module development for climate modelling
Capacity building training for climate modelling
Localized precipitation and temperature scenarios through modelling for CDMP districts
Localized climatic hazard scenarios through biophysical and application modelling for CDMP
districts
Policy advocacy for mainstreaming use of climatic modelling products for development persuasion
by all relevant agencies
MoU among modelling house and development agencies
Streamlined and mainstream use of modelling products down the road

This road map has been finalized addressing written comments and suggestions and sharing and discussing
and incorporating all aspects with the modelling community in a meeting held on 18th June 2006 at DoE.

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Chapter 1
Background
1.1 Vision
The vision is to establish an integrated climate change impact modelling approach to incorporate climate
risk management in the development process of the country for ensuring safety of human lives and
properties.

1.2 Mission
The mission is outlining pathways for climate change (and variability) modelling matching development
needs and existing modelling practices, strengthening capacity where needed and establish an institutional
arrangement that shall ensure appropriate impact modelling to the development stakeholders in Bangladesh

1.3 Context
Bangladesh has initiated a Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP) to strengthen the
country’s capacity in disaster management, to reduce unacceptable risks and improve response and recovery
activities. CDMP aims to establish a mechanism that facilitates management of long term climate risks and
uncertainties as an integral part of national development planning and increases the effectiveness of
responses during both ‘normal’ time and emergencies.
The Climate Change Cell has been established in the Department of Environment in 2004 under the CDMP,
with the objective of “Establishing an Integrated Approach to Climate Change Risk Management at
National and Local Levels.” It responds to the recognition that Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the
effects of climate change, and that the number and scale of climate-related disasters are likely to increase.
The Cell provides the central focus for the government’s climate change related work, operating as a unit of
the Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The
Climate Change Cell’s work broadly focuses on three critical areas: building the capacity of MoEF/DoE to
coordinate and mainstream climate change issues in development activities; strengthening existing
knowledge and information accessibility on impact prediction and adaptation to climate change; and
awareness-raising, advocacy and coordination to promote climate change adaptation and risk reduction in
development activities.

1.4 Concern
The global climate is changing, impacting all spheres of the earth including physical, natural, social and
economic domains and life and livelihoods of people. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the impacts
of climate change. However, the extent, intensity and magnitude of impacts are not known exactly.
Bangladesh is a deltaic country; some 70% of the country is at risk of flooding and over 20% of the country
experiences 'normal' floods during the monsoon period every year. Storm surges, cyclones and tornadoes
occur frequently and cause huge destruction. Tropical cyclones and tornadoes have serious and adverse
impacts on livelihoods and the environment causing loss of lives, property, crops, infrastructure and
damage to natural resources.

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Bangladesh is already experiencing climate related hazards like floods, droughts, cyclones and others which
are aggravating because of climate change (and variability). Climatic changes in Bangladesh will include
changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. Related risks include the likely increase in periods of
drought, increase in frequency of severe flooding and increasing duration of the floods due to drainage
congestion following sea level rise. Climate change will also affect water availability for households and
agricultural consumption: increased precipitation and fluxes combined with sea-level rise will mean that
coastal waters become more saline and ground water aquifers may face saline intrusion.
Climate change therefore threatens both previous achievements and future efforts to reduce poverty in
Bangladesh, particularly by threatening water and food security and damage to essential infrastructure
during more frequent disaster events.

1.4 Rationale
To cope and adapt with climate change (and variability), it is necessary to know the location, nature,
intensity and magnitudes of impacts. Knowledge in this arena is growing. Globally there are more
initiatives in this regard and though the globe essentially has a single climate system, climatic changes need
to be identified regionally and nationally.
Modelling exercises are being practiced worldwide including Bangladesh to predict impacts of climate
change (and variability). IPCC is preparing its Fourth Assessment Report, which will include latest
modelling results in climate change (and variability). There are some 23 global circulation/climate models
(GCM), around 7-8 regional models (RCM) and numerous country specific models in operation.
Two approaches need to be followed to provide the relevant actors, institutions and stakeholder groups in
Bangladesh with models of the impacts of climate change (and variability). One is down scaling
global/regional climate models to a user level and the other is interfacing climate model outputs with water
models (flood, drought, cyclones etc) as well as water models with application models (drought assessment
model, livelihood models, economic models).
It is essential that respective professionals from different sectors identify their specific needs of impact
predictions from the modelling. The modelling exercises could then concentrate addressing these needs.
The resolution and precision of the outputs from models can thus be more user-specific and demand driven.

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Chapter 2
Needs Assessment
2.1 Workshop
A two day workshop on Climate Change Impact Modelling was arranged at the BIAM Foundation in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 26-27, 2006. The aim of the workshop was outlining pathways for climate
change (and variability) modelling in Bangladesh matching development needs and existing modelling
practices. It was organized by the Climate Change Cell of Department of Environment under the CDMP.

2.2 Participants
A large number of professionals from government and non-government organizations participated in and
contributed to the workshop. Participants included both the demand side (representing the sectors that shall
use modelling output) and the supply side (modelling community). A total of 54 participants from BUET,
BWDB, SPARSSO, BMD, DMB, LGED, BIDS, WARPO, PWD, MoWR, DoE, DAE, BARC, FD, IPSU,
DEFRA, UBINIG, Practical Action, IWM, CEGIS, NSU, BCAS, BELA, KU, JU, DEBTEC, ICZMP,
IUCN and SUB actively participated in and contributed to the workshop.

2.3 Needs and Expectation
The workshop was arranged to create a platform between the users and the modelers so that there is a
perfect blend of what the users need and what the modelers can provide. Key Questions in the workshop
were: Will climate related hazards be more frequent, more intense, and increase in magnitude? Which
locations are vulnerable? When are these hazards likely to occur? And what shall be possible impacts? For
example: The farmer would like to know the precipitation pattern while planning his crop calendar,
preparing his land, sowing, harvesting, etc. Participants of the workshop specified demands from the
modelling for their respective sectors.

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Based on the workshop findings the following needs and expectations have been identified:
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Location specific climate change impact (precipitation, temperature, flood, drought, salinity
intrusion, erosion) projections at a sub district level
Climate change impact projections for crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry.
Information related to crop tolerance for salinity intrusion, pest management, soil moisture and
crop adaptability, assessing loss of agro-biodiversity, potential of agricultural diversification,
management of land resources, sustainable farming practices, agro-economic modelling and
strategic planning for food security
Disaster Management Bureau specifically requires scientific information on climate change
impacts (e.g. flood, drought and riverbank erosion) on all sectors like agriculture, education,
health, infrastructure, communication and livelihood security and others to manage disasters
Determine the actual progress that has been made so far on climate change prediction modelling
Upgrade and interface existing models where applicable
Develop reliable models with provisions for regular updates
Create database on climate change to pursue climate risk management
Develop processes drawing on a set of experts, researchers, analysts, etc to address the specific
needs and demands
Integrate climate modelling, bio-physical modelling, application modelling and user.
Explore mechanism for establishing such integration.
Coordination of all relevant sectors/departments
Creation of database in respective government departments, and make it accessible, so that any
individual or agency can obtain relevant data as and when required

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Chapter 3
Climate Change Models in Bangladesh
3.1 Climate and Climate Model
Climate may be defined as “The average weather for a particular region and time period (usually taken over
a 30-year time period). Climate elements include precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine and wind
velocity and phenomena such as for, frost, and fail storms1.
Climate model is a computer program that, when amounts of various gases and various other factors are
specified, gives a prediction of what the temperature should be2. The most comprehensive climate models
include: General Circulation Models (GCMs) with atmospheric and oceanic components. A GCM follows
the evolution of all the weather systems, clouds, and rain, and the interactions with the land and ocean.
There are free atmospheric modes of circulation that have time-scales of up to about two years (quasibiennal oscillation). There are also coupled ocean-atmospheric modes that have time-scales from weeks to
several decades.

Source: Okanagan University College in Canada, Department of Oxford, school of geography: United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington; Climate Change 1995, The science of climate change, contribution
of working group 1 to the second assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, UNEP and WMO,
Cambridge University press 1996.

Figure 1: Climate system and the green house effect in pictorial form

1
2

http://www.everythingbio.com/gols/definition.php?world=climate
http://www.teachmefinance.com/Scientific_Terms/Climate_Model.html

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3.2 Status of Climate Models in Bangladesh
RCMs: There is a growing demand from many countries for regional-scale climate change impact models.
Global Climate Models (GCMs) operate on relatively coarse scale of a few hundred kilometres, but to study
the impacts of climate change we need to model changes on much smaller scales. Regional climate models
(RCMs) have a much higher resolution than global climate models and as a result provide climate
information with useful local detail including realistic extreme events. RCMs allow to substantially improve
assessments of a country’s vulnerability to climate change.
RegCM3: In 2003, Bangladesh Unnayan Parisad (BUP) initiated to introduce RegCM3 through Asia Pacific
Network (APN) Capacity build-up program. RegCM is a 3-dimensional, sigma-coordinate, 16 vertical
levels, primitive equation regional climate model developed by ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical
Physics), Trieste, Italy. Version 3 of RegCM is the latest. It is developed and supported by scientists inside
and outside of ICTP. RegCM3 is extensively used around the world and at present is running at BUET with
different model parameterizations. This model can be updated regularly, offers sensitivity analysis and can
generate data usually for 60/60 km or 50/50 km area. DOWNSTEP option provides high resolution output
at any demanding resolution say 25/25 km or 20/20 km. Some validation results of RegCM3 with a few
cases on extreme events occurred in the last decade is available and generation of future scenarios for Asian
Region is on going. In case of predicting temperature RegCM shows a systematic error. But PRECIS shows
random errors for low temperatures and systematic errors for high temperatures.
PRECIS: The Hadley Centre of UK has developed PRECIS that can be run on a PC and can be applied
easily to any area of the globe to generate detailed climate change projections. PRECIS has a horizontal
resolution of 50 km with 19 levels in the atmosphere (from the surface to 30 km in the stratosphere) and
four levels in the soil. The present version of PRECIS has the option to downscale to 25 km horizontal
resolution. In addition to a comprehensive representation of the physical processes in the atmosphere and
land-surface, it also includes the sulfur cycle. PRECIS developers advised to work based on groups of
countries, as in many cases they have similar vulnerabilities and face similar impacts from climate change
and can configure the model over their own region and run their own regional climate change predictions.
The Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India runs PRECIS with 50 km horizontal resolution
for present climate (1961-1990) using different base line local boundary condition (LBC) and for future
scenarios (2070-2100) using IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Special Report on
Emissions Scenarios (SRES). Department of Physics, BUET tested the model simulation for two years run
(1979-1980) as the LBC data (ERA40) was available and found the same data output as obtained by IITM.
This model can predict maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall, soil moisture for each of the four
seasons and as an annual average, for the period 2071-2100. Further analysis can generate quantities such as
change in number of days with heavy rainfall, with temperatures greater or less than a given threshold, or
changes in the number of droughts.
The Climate Change Cell, DoE with support from the Hadley center installed PRECIS at BUET, BMD and
SPARRSO and formed a working group with these organizations and SMRC. Precipitation and temperature
data (1961-1990) validation using PRECIS has been tried and found that regional analysis provides
overestimation because of downgrading observed data when girded from asymmetric data network. Data
extracted at some particular locations (observational points) provide better performance. PRECIS shows
systematic cold bias for the maximum temperature and random bias for minimum temperature. The
PRECIS can be used in predicting rainfall and temperature in Bangladesh using a look-up table. However, it
is suggested to use clean data as the present data set from BMD and BWDB has considerable numbers of
outliers.

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3.3 Status of Water Modeling in Bangladesh
Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) is the only institution of its kind established by the Government of
Bangladesh under the Trust Act to function as a Centre of Excellence and learning in the field of
computational hydraulics, water modelling and allied sciences. IWM owes its genesis to the Surface Water
Simulation Modelling Programme (SWSMP) that was launched in 1986 by the Ministry of Water
Resources under the then Master Planning Organisation with the assistance of UNDP and the World Bank
to develop sustained high level of analytical capabilities by use of state-of-the-art mathematical water
modelling. With an added impetus generated by the two disastrous floods of 1987 and 1988, for developing
a sustainable professional institution in carrying out mathematical water modelling tasks in Bangladesh,
including hosting of all Flood Action Plan models the SWSMP continued in its 2nd and 3rd phases with the
assistance of DANIDA. By the end of 1996, IWM (the then SWMC) was transformed into an independent
self-sustained organisation under the Trust Act 1882 by a Cabinet decision.
Quasi two dimensional hydrodynamic models
ƒ Compiled and structured the new “General Model”, for the main rivers network and all the
watersheds of Bangladesh by 1D hydrodynamic model developed by 1D hydrodynamic modelling
system MIKE 11 of DHI
ƒ

Developed hydrodynamic models for different studies, design purposes and flood risk mapping.
Flood Forecasting Modelling (72 hrs lead-time) for major and main rivers of Bangladesh.

ƒ

Upgraded and updated (MIKE11-RR, NAM) hydrologic and hydrodynamic models developed for
6 regions covering entire country. These were updated for last 20 years.

ƒ

Application of MIKE11 to develop watershed models and scenario studies on e.g. Jamuna
Dependent Area, Salinity Intrusion in the coastal zone, Local Flood Forecasting in the flushy
rivers, impact of land use changes on drainage effectiveness at the existing bridges and culverts
during severe flood and incessant rainfall.

Hydrodynamic, river erosion and morphological modelling
ƒ Completed courses on the 2D hydrodynamic & Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and its applications
for the different parts in the 6 regions.
ƒ

Curvilinear Morphological Model (MIKE21) for the region of the Bay of Bengal, Jamuna, Ganges,
Upper & Lower Meghna, Surma, Pasur, Sangu etc.

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Salinity, wave and sediment transport, cyclonic surge model, turbulence in flow and fluvialmorphological modelling for the Meghna estuary and Pasur river.

ƒ
•

Oil spill modelling for Akram point of estuary mouth at Pasur river.
MIKE21C Quasi-3D model for bed and bank erosion, almost all the national and regional rivers
are modeled.

ƒ

Delft3D model of Aricha confluence, MIKE-GIS for Flood mapping in a dynamic approach.

Ground Water Modeling
• Simulated ground water table for ground water abstraction, contamination modeling for the Dhaka
City.
•

MIKESHE full 3D model of the ground water flows and dynamic coupling with surface water
flow- for entire Barendra area and Thakurgaon Teesta Project area.

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Morphological Quasi 3D Modeling
ƒ MIKE21C of DHI has been applied to analyse river bed and bank movement Brahmaputra,
Jamuna, Ganges, Upper & Lower Meghna, Surma, Pasur, Sangu and several major regional rivers
and forecast one to five year and devising appropriate mitigation measures.
ƒ

MIKE21C has also been used for river bank and island erosion forecast (one to successive five
years)

ƒ

This model has also been used for hydraulic designs of road and rail infra-structures and bridges.

ƒ

Delft 3D of Delft Hydraulics with limited application has been used in Aricha-confluence.

Urban Water Modeling
ƒ Water distribution modelling for Dhaka city by MIKE URBAN of DHI
ƒ

Drainage Model for Segunbagicha-Dholai Khal link project by MOUSE and MOUSE Flood of
DHI.

Ground Water and Surface Water Interaction Modeling
• Simulated ground water table by MODFLOW for ground water abstraction and contamination
modeling for the Dhaka city.
•

Provided DSS for several irrigation projects like North Bangladesh Tubewell Project, Teesta
Project, Pabna Project, Meghna-Dhonagoda project, Chandpur Irrigation Project and Barendra
Development project by MIKESHE and MIKE11 of DHI.”

Basin Model
• Basin wide modelling of the Indo-Gangetic plains by MIKE-Basin of DHI

3.4 Status of Application Models in Bangladesh
DRAS: DRAS (Drought Assessment) is a computer based computational framework linked with GIS
analytical tools developed by CEGIS for quick assessment of drought. This model assists in making
strategies for national level planning as well as determining the requirement of irrigation water for different
types of soils at different agro-ecological climates. DRAS consists of two models, the Water Availability
Assessment Model and the Crop Water Demand and Yield Reduction Model.
Erosion Prediction Model: CEGIS developed techniques for monitoring and predicting bank erosion along
the Jamuna River using time-series of dry season satellite images in the late 1990’s. CEGIS is monitoring
and predicting the morphological development as well as bank erosion at various reaches of the Jamuna
River under the framework of a number of BWDB and WARPO projects such as the RBPP, JMREMP,
FAP 21 and EMIN Projects.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): CEGIS developed computation framework for IWRM
focusing on inter-sectoral resource balance; management and improvement of cross-border flows; basin
wise development; and an optimal mix of the various structural and non-structural measures.
CROPSUIT: CEGIS developed Crop Suitability Model CROPSUIT that projects suitability of crops and
shrimps with changing sea level rise scenarios. This study will show future pathway of sustainable landuse
planning in environmentally vulnerable regions.

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Chapter 4
Institutional Profiles
4.1 Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad
Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) is a non-profit organization that promotes basic and applied research
on socioeconomic development and environment in Bangladesh since 1980. Over the years BUP has
acquired and developed required expertise for carrying out research and studies. Presently the strength is 22
core full-time professional including senior scholars, research directors, senior specialists/fellows, fellows,
senior associates, associates. Besides, BUP maintains a roster of resource personnel/experts and field staff.
Since 2001, BUP is involved in the development of climate change impact modelling for Bangladesh in
collaboration with national and international scientific communities. This organization has the licensed
version of RegCM and PRECIS, both recommended by IPCC. BUP is also a member of the IPCC working
group 1 which is responsible for improvement and update of climate change models.
Presently BUP is involved in development of different scenarios for Bangladesh for 2100 in collaboration
with Pakistan and Nepal. These member countries are working with RegCM to validate the model and
prepare different scenario for Southeast Asia. Simultaneously, model validation of RegCM has also been
carried out by Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology in collaboration with BUP.
BUP has collaborative relationship and working partnership with organizations of high international repute
both within and outside Bangladesh. Currently the BUP has international linkages either as a member or as
a working partner with:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Environment Program
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Association of Development Research and Training Institutes of Asia and the Pacific (ADIPA), which
is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
Asian Network of Human Resource Development Planning Institutes, coordinated by ILO/SAAT, New
Delhi, India;
Climatic Research Unit (CRU), East Anglia University, U. K.;
International Global Change Institute (IGCI), former Centre for Environmental and Resource Studies
(CEARS), University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand;
Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi, India;
Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu, Nepal; and
Global Infrastructure Fund (GIF) Research Foundation, Tokyo, Japan.
Cooperative Monitoring Center (CMC), Sandia National Laboratory, USA.
Global Water Partnership (GWP), Stockholm, Sweden.
International Water Resources Association (IWRA), Mexico City, Mexico.

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4.2 Institute of Water Modelling
IWM is a trust set up by the Government of Bangladesh as a Centre of Excellence in the field of water
modeling and allied sciences. IWM provides world–class services in the field of Water Modeling,
Computational Hydraulics & Allied Sciences for improved integrated Water Resources Management. It is a
unique organization in the region having sustainable technological capability in developing mathematical
models and decision support systems for both surface and ground water and related environment in a
holistic approach. The applications of IWM modelling tolls cover a wide range of water related aspects
such as : flood control, flood forecasting, irrigation and drainage, water resources management, river
morphology, salinity and sediment transport, coastal hydraulics, port, coast and estuary management,
environmental impact assessment, bridge hydraulics and related infrastructure development. In developing
the models, IWM undertakes its own data campaign and has earned a high reputation for fast and cost
effective river surveys in large rivers using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. Presently systematic
campaigns are undertaken to produce GIS based topographic maps. IWM has developed a very
comprehensive database covering almost the entire country for a long period; the database is computerized
and is maintained online. IWM conducts applied research in collaboration with academic institutes and
agencies likely to contribute and benefit from the research findings. IWM provides training at home and
abroad for the water management professionals.
The number of staffs in IWM is about 160, of whom more than 70% are professionals. Regular training
programs both at home and abroad are conducted to develop and update their expertise in relevant fields.
Some staff is currently pursuing higher studies abroad (MS and PhD) and the Institute encourages such
programmes for upgrading expertise.
Over the years IWM has established close linkages with different national and international institutions.
DHI Water and Environment of Denmark has been a close partner in the technology transfer. Similar
linkages were also established with the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET),
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, HR Wallingford, UK and Delft Hydraulics of the Netherlands.

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4.3 Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS)
The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) is another supportive quasi
Government institute for integrated environmental analysis using geographic information systems and
remote sensing, as well as information technology and databases. CEGIS’ predecessor, EGIS was launched
in 1995 through the integration of the Environmental Studies (FAP 16) and the Geographic Information
System Studies (FAP 19), initiated under the FAP in 1991. In 2002 CEGIS has been established as public
trust under the Ministry of Water Resources through successful completion of EGIS-I and EGIS-II projects.
Set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and
supported by the Government of the Netherlands, it became an independent registered organization after 10
years of working as a project. Thus CEGIS, with its services and products relating to consulting, R&D,
spatial analysis, information and database, and training, came into full operation from 1st July, 2002.
CEGIS is equipped with specialized hardware and soft ware including latest remote sensing and data bases.
CEGIS provides required set of reliable, accessible and frequently updated information in the field of over
all green environment and natural resources management domains to support a number of GoB agencies
and by taking part in projects in response to specific demands.
CEGIS has expertise as well as tools to assess the impacts on economy, society, and environment for
different Climate Change conditions. CEGIS has working experience in developing physical models (e.g.
hydrological, land and water resource, land and water use suitability). CEGIS have experience with
GWAVA, STREAM, CROPSUIT models and other impact models.
CEGIS has over 50 multidisciplinary professionals with expertise in hydrology, water resource
management, fisheries, economics, agriculture, sociology, ecology, biology, river morphology, engineering,
ground water, soil science, GIS, remote sensing, database and programming. CEGIS continuously support
its human resources development through training at home and abroad. CEGIS has a strong systematic
research and development (R&D) program.
CEGIS has collaborative agreements and a working relationship with a number of national agencies
including WARPO, BWDB, BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council), BRRI (Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute) and DoF. CEGIS also has access to expertise from agencies from abroad including the
Netherlands, USA and UK.

4.4 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, abbreviated as BUET, is one of the most
prestigious institutions for higher studies in the country. About five thousand students are pursuing
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in engineering, architecture, planning and science in this institution.
At present Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam of the Department of Physics, BUET works in the area of Atmospheric
Physics. His research is concentrated mainly in the field of Satellite Meteorology, Radar Meteorology,
Monsoon Meteorology, Climate Modelling and Remote Sensing. At present three Regional Climate Models
(RCMs) named MM5 (PSU/NCAR, USA), RegCM3 (Italy) and PRECIS (UK) are installed and running in
the Department of Physics, BUET. Dr. Islam and his associates are involved in MM5, PRECIS and
RegCM3 activities from BUET.

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He was involved in "Japan-Bangladesh Joint Study Project" Phase I and Phase II, in Meteorology Section
for investigating rainfall characteristics and diurnal variation of rainfall in Indian Subcontinent. These
projects were funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). He was also involved in a
"Monbusho" project with Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University; funded by
Grant Aid of Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports in Japanese Government, Japan, for investigating
cause of natural disaster like flood in this region. Currently he is involved as a Co-Investigator in TRMMRA4 project to investigate the “Statistical studies on characteristics of cloud and precipitation around
Bangladesh during Monsoon period”. He is also working as the Co-Investigator and Team Leader
(Bangladesh side) in GEOSS/ MAHASRI project funded by Japan. The aim of these projects is “to develop
a hydro-meteorological prediction system, particularly with the time scale up to a season, through better
scientific understanding of Asian monsoon variability”.

4.5 Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) under the Ministry of Agriculture is at the apex of
the national agricultural research system (NARS). It has the responsibility to strengthen the national
agricultural research capability through planning and integration of resources. This involves cooperative
activities in several ministries: Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Fisheries and Livestock, Rural
Development, Education, Industries, Commerce, Science and Technology, etc. BARC’s activities generally
include crop improvement; soil and water management and land use; plant protection; plant nutrition;
animal and fish production; animal health; farming system; post harvest technology; forestry; and socioeconomics. BARC uses models such as SCENGEN (generating climate scenario), DRASS, PRECIS,
RegCM and DSAT (Decision Support System for agro-technology transfer) which is compatible with
RegCM.

4.6 Bangladesh Meteorological Department
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) is the authorized Government organization for all
meteorological activities in the country. It maintains a network of surface and upper air observatories, radar
and satellite stations, agro-meteorological observatories, geomagnetic and seismological observatories and
meteorological telecommunication system. They maintain precipitation and temperature data among others.

4.7 Bangladesh Water Development Board
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is the leading organization for water resources
management and development. BWDB mainly deals with, flood control and drainage; irrigation; river bank
and town protection; flood forecasting and warning services; hydro-meteorological data management; land
reclamation; protection against tidal surge. BWDB collects and maintains data on surface water (water
level, discharge, sediment data, and water quality), groundwater (level measurement, quality), morphology
(river cross section) and meteorology (rainfall, evaporation, climetrological station).

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4.8 Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSSO)
SPARSSO has been established in 1980 as an autonomous multisectoral R&D organization of the
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It acts as the centre of excellence and national focal
point for the peaceful applications of space science, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System
(GIS) in Bangladesh. It keeps close collaboration with national, regional and international organizations,
institutions and agencies. The research results, satellite data and information are disseminated to the
relevant public, autonomous and private agencies for their development and policy-making activities.
SPARSSO have facilities such as meteorological satellite ground station, image processing and GIS
facilities, advanced cartography laboratory, advanced photographic laboratory and trained manpower.
SPARSSO has been involved in PRECIS modelling activities along with others. SPARSSO activities
among others include following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Agricultural research: crop monitoring, crop yield forecasting;
Disaster monitoring: daily weather, tropical cyclone, storm surge, drought, flood;
Environment study: climate change, coastal zone, oceanography, EL-Nino, monsoon and ecology;
Water resources, river course monitoring, erosion/accretion monitoring;
Forestry and Fisheries;
Land use, land degradation;
Cartography - GIS applications, thematic and digital maps;

4.9 Water Resources Planning Organization
The Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) is an agency of the Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Water Resources. WARPO came into being in June, 1992
and became key organization of the Government dealing with nation wide water resources planning and
management and, thus, forming an apex body in the water sector. WARPO is responsible for three main
assignments. First, it prepares and updates the National Water Management Plan. Second, it updates and
maintains a National Water Resources Database. Third, WARPO will act as a clearing house for all water
sector projects. WARPO is a multi-disciplinary organization with a team of some 35 professionals from a
wide range of disciplines.

4.10 SAARC Meteorological Research Centre
SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) was established in 1995 to carry out research, to support
mitigation of natural disasters and to help this region to achieve and continue the sustainable socioeconomic development of SAARC Member countries. The Centre is responsible for: Undertaking research
relevant to weather predication and better understanding of various aspects of monsoon and other weather
phenomena of particular interests to the region; compiling climatological information for the region
required for weather forecasting and agricultural activities; organizing special observation or observing
periods for monitoring special weather phenomena of interest to the region for collecting data and
undertaking research; developing a networking system between the Centre and the member countries in
order to get data to undertake its activities and to provide the processed information to the members.

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Chapter 5
Road Map for Climate Change Model
5.1 Basis
Collective works pursued during the workshop has been analyzed and is being presented in this document.
Specific needs of different sectors from the impact modelling exercise to pursue ‘sustainable climate
resilient development’ have been compiled. Activity based modelling presentations in the workshop
indicated what different modelling exercises could offer to meet these needs. It became clear that climate
modelling, water modelling and application modelling are necessary to support a ‘climate resilient
development’ process. Another milestone finding of the workshop was that the quality of the data from
BMD and BWDB used for calibration of climate modelling as a baseline data needs to be improved.
Following the workshop further consultations were held with the institutions and professionals engaged in
the modelling activities. Discussions with the professionals and institutions focused on two major areas:
•

•

Output formats including spatial (e.g. used mesh size in the model) and temporal (e.g. defined
spells over the seasons) resolutions; compatibility of climate models with water models and
application models in practice in the country.
Developing profiles of the relevant modelling institutions including capacity, experience,
exposure, networking and willingness to achieve and contribute in this regard.

It became evident that there is a need to establish institutional homes separately for climate modelling,
water modelling and application modelling. Each of the modelling exercise requires input and contribution
from a number of organizations for each model and partnerships have to be strengthened and/or developed.
And again institutional arrangements have to be established among institutional homes so that output from
climate modelling could be utilized as input for water and application modelling.

5.2 Institutional home for modelling exercise
Climate Change Model: Climate modelling has been introduced recently in the country and is in a
beginning stage. The PRECIS model has been installed at BUET, BUP, BMD, SMRC and SPARSSO and
these organizations have been working with this model and engaged to run a data validation for base
condition. The effort however did’nt yield expected output because of limited coordination, quality of data
and missing of a home base. An institutional home is necessary with devoted commitment to pursue the
climate modelling in the country. Institutional capacity in this regard has scope to strengthen further. A
capacity building initiative will be undertaken soon to increase the number of professionals who shall be
able to run the climate models and use outputs of the models.
Since 2001, BUP is involved in the development of climate change impact modelling for Bangladesh in
collaboration with national and international scientific communities. This organization has the licensed
version of RegCM and PRECIS, both recommended by IPCC. BUP is also a member of the IPCC working
group 1 which is responsible for improvement and update of climate change models. RegCM and PRECIS
are compatible with the water models practiced in Bangladesh. Climate modelling activities shall
continuously be improved through technical guidance from BUET and shall join hands with BWDB and
BMD receiving data for modelling and remain linked with SMRC and IPCC.

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Water Model: Mathematical modelling for the water parameters has gone a considerable way in Bangladesh
and has the capacity and experience of one and two dimensional mathematical modelling using MIKE
products developed by Danish Hydraulics Institute, Denmark. Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), a public
trust, is the organization working since 1990 with Mike products and developed the basic models required
for flood elevation computation for flood forecasting and warning in Bangladesh. It also provides support
on river modelling to study river flow and floods, morphology, sediment transport, salinity, water quality,
off- take dynamics etc. The modelling system forms the basis also for the assessment of environmental
impacts, such as, discharge of pollutants, dumping of spoils or land reclamation, salinity intrusion, cooling
water discharge, floods and storm surges. Presently the off the shelve water models are presented below:
Table 1: Water model available at IWM
Name of the model
Rainfall Runoff model

Hydrodynamic model

Morphological
Model/Sediment
Transport model

Extent
All hydrological regions of
Bangladesh
( including information of
union level)
All hydrological regions of
Bangladesh ( including
information of union level)

Flood Forecasting
model

Major river system: Jamuna,
Padma, Ganges and Meghna,
Pussur Sibsa system
Lower Meghna, Karnafuli and
Sangu river
Flood forecasting, All regions
except coastal area

Hydrodynamic &
Digital Terrain model
and Morphological
model

Region of Bay of Bengal.
Jamuna, Padma, Ganges, Upper
& Lower Meghna, Surma
Pussur-Sibsa river system

Salinity, Wave,
Sediment Transport
and Cyclonic Surge
model, Turbulence in
flow and Fluvial
Morphological model

The coastal zone, Meghna
estuary and Pussur Sibsa river
system

Groundwater
Modeling

Dhaka city and other projects at
regional level

Major Output/product
(for union, upazila and district)
rainfall, evaporation, runoff, catchments
flow

MIKE Modules
NAM MIKE11

water availability, water level, discharge,
velocity, flood level inundation depth and
duration map, water quality

MIKE11/MIKEGIS/MIKE
FLOOD

sediment transport, erosion/deposition
pattern, long-term morphological changes

MIKE11

flood scenarios (flood level, depth and
duration), flood map for rural and urban
areas
erosion vulnerability for characteristic
flood, erosion-prone areas, riverbank
erosion forecast , erosion mitigation
measures, impacts of erosion mitigation
measures.

MIKE11

salinity level and extent in chart/graphs
and tables,
salinity zoning map for agriculture,
fisheries and household use,
sediment budget, erosion/deposition
pattern, sedimentation in harbour and
navigation channel,
navigability of river and assessment of
maintenance dredging
storm surge inundation depth and duration
and risk map
groundwater availability, groundwater
and its potential for future use, aquifer
response, recharge mechanism,
zoning for STW and DTW, groundwater
quality

MIKE21
MIK21FM

MIKE21 &
MIKE21C
Delft3D

MODFLOW
and MIKESHE

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IWM updates the recent development of water models around the world through Network with Danish
Hydraulics Institute. IWM would be the appropriate institute for housing water modelling in Bangladesh.
Water models will be developed by IWM from technical support from WARPO & SPARSSO shall provide
the technical support. BMD and BWDB will be model development associate through providing necessary
data and information. SMRC will act as the regional associate and DHI will be the international associate.
Application Models: Center for Environment & Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) has extensive
experience in the field of integrated environmental analysis through development of application models
using input data and information from the available climate change and water models in Bangladesh.
Recently, CEGIS has developed an applied hydrological model using GWAVA model to assess the
availability of water resources for the whole country with input information from PRECIS model under the
CLASIC project. CEGIS has also recently developed a Climate Change application model to see the impact
of sea level rise on landuse suitability and different adaptation options in the south west region of
Bangladesh. A CROPSUIT model has been developed to determine the physical suitability of crops and
shrimps based on land characteristics. The input data for these model has been taken from water model
developed by IWM for simulating river system under the present and future condition.
CEGIS has also developed Drought Assessment application (DRAS) model in collaboration with
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) for rapid assessment of the drought and its management
guidelines for the country. This model has two parts: Water availability assessment model and crop water
demand with yield reduction assessment. The Water availability assessment model was developed based on
water model information and climate change data. This model is capable of providing drought information
on an average of 30 years and recent year.
CEGIS can provide following information from the available application models:
Table 2: Application models available at CEGIS
Name of the model
DRAS

Erosion Prediction

CROPSUIT

GWAVA

Major Output
Thana wise water availability,
crop water demand, and yield
reduction for current year and
also the trend.
Probability of erosion prediction
for main river systems (Jamuna,
Padma, Ganges and Meghna) for
one year ahead.
Landuse suitability mapping
showing the impacts on
agriculture fisheries and forest
for current and projected year.
Grid based daily availability of
water resources.

Product Description
Customized GIS based software using
model output from water model of IWM
and ground water model of WARPO.
Empirical model based on remote sensing,
hydrological and water quality data

It can produce mapping under different sea
level rise scenarios

Distributed GIS based hydrological water
balance model which can run under
different climatic scenarios.

GEGIS will be the institutional home for the application model in association with BARC as the technical
partner. BUP and IWM will also work as model development associate.

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5.2 Institutional arrangements for modeling exercise
The profile of the model practicing institutions reveals that BUP could be considered for housing climate
change models with BUET as technical associate, BMD and BWDB as model developing associate, SMRC
as regional associate and IPCC as international associate. IWM could be home for water modelling with
WARPO and SPARSSO as technical associate, BWDB, and BUP as model developing associate, SMRC as
regional associate and DHI as international associate. CEGIS could be home for application modelling with
BARC as technical associate and IWM and BUP as model developing associate. It should be mentioned
that these arrangements can be adjusted over time. Rather these are initial arrangements with an open
approach, as the capacity of the modelling practice shall increase in the country and new professionals and
institutes shall emerge and shall join the team in any areas relevant to. All the institutions involved in
climate change impact modelling shall adopt latest technology and customized for the country.

Climate Change Model
Housed at: BUP
Technical Associate: BUET
Model Developing Associate: BMD, BWDB
Regional Associate: SMRC
International Associate: IPCC

C
L
I
M
A
T
E

D
E
V
E
L
O
P
M
E
N
T

Water Model
Housed at: IWM
Technical Associate: BUET, SPARSSO, WARPO
Model Developing Associate: BWDB, BUP
Regional Associate: SMRC
International Associate: DHI

C
H
A
N
G
E

A
G
E
N
C
I
E
S

Application Model
Housed at: CEGIS
Technical Associate: BARC
Model Developing Associate: IWM, BUP

C
E
L
L

Coordinator
& Monitor

Model
Developer

End
Users

Figure 2: Road Map for future coordination of Climate Prediction Model in Bangladesh
Coordination: Climate Change Cell, established at DoE within the frame work of CDMP shall coordinate
modelling practice for development persuasion. Climate Change Cell could be used as a platform where
model developers (BUP, IWM & CEGIS) and end users (CDMP and development agencies) can come
together for better understanding, coordination and building of partnership. The available models shall be
further enhanced with the state of the art techniques and technology from different scientific communities
working at national, regional and international level and shall be customized for Bangladesh and continue to
support information need for climate risk management. To achieve this climate change cell shall continue to
pursue policy advocacy along with awareness raising and capacity building to mainstream CRM.

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5.2 Business plan
The following business plan is suggested to operationalize the roadmap following business plan shall be
followed. The Climate Change Cell intends to carry forward the activities of the business plan from now
through 2008. However, policy advocacy for mainstreaming shall continue beyond.

Business plan
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

BMD base line (1961 to 1990) precipitation and temperature data quality improvement
Acquire localized hazard trends for seven CDMP districts to support Community Risk
Assessment and Action Plan Development and initiate Local Disaster Risk Reduction
MoU among the modelling homes and CDMP
MoU among partners of specific models
Validation runs PRECIS with improved data
Validation runs RegCM with improved data
Comparative analysis of validation results for PRECIS and RegCM
Outline training plan for climate modelling
Training module development for climate modelling
Capacity building training for climate modelling
Localized precipitation and temperature scenarios through modelling for CDMP districts
Localized climatic hazard scenarios through biophysical and application modelling for CDMP
districts
Policy advocacy for mainstreaming use of climatic modelling products for development
persuasion by all relevant agencies
MoU among modeling house and development agencies
Streamlined and mainstream use of modelling products down the road

This road map has been finalized addressing written comments and suggestions and sharing and discussing
and incorporating all aspects with the modelling community in a meeting held on 18th June 2006 at DoE.

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Climate Change Cell